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Who doesn’t love a home renovation? Well, apparently quite a few people. Renovations can be scary times thanks to how much time and money we have to spend on contractors, materials and costly expenses. However, when done correctly, a home renovation can be life-changing. Imagine having an extra room in your loft to do whatever you want with. It could be a hobby room to keep all of your equipment or it could be an extra bedroom to prepare for an unexpected newborn. You could even turn your garage into the gym you’ve always wanted, or you might want to add a luxurious pool to your backyard.

Whatever the renovation might be, there’s a good chance that it can completely change the way you see your home, or even add lots of resale value for when you eventually move on. There are plenty of advantages to getting a home renovation, but are the potential negatives worth it?

Absolutely!

To give you an idea of what you’re missing out on, we’re going to be talking about a couple of functional (and expensive!) home renovations that you’re too afraid to invest in, but we’ll do it by showing you just how amazing and life-changing some of these can be.

Loft Renovation

A loft renovation (or sometimes a conversion) is one of the most exciting renovations you can get. Sadly, it’s also one that can be incredibly costly depending on the condition of your home. Since it involves potentially working around the structure of your property, it can get very costly especially if you have an old home or one that has been heavily modified already. Here are some of the best benefits of converting your loft:

An extra room for anything you need - A loft renovation is one of the best ways to get extra space for anything you could ask for. Be it a room to be creative or a children’s playroom, adding an entire extra room to your home is a fantastic way to get more use from it. This is usually a much better option than moving to a new home or renovating the garage because the loft is typically just an empty void in your home that doesn’t serve many purposes.

Boosted property value - Loft conversions can greatly boost your property value and this can be a dealbreaker especially when it comes to investing for the long-term future of your home. While it doesn’t make much sense to get a loft conversion done just before you sell your home, it’s a fantastic way to add more functionality to your home once you’ve just moved in and started paying off your mortgage.

Increased storage space - Of course, if you just want a cheaper loft conversion then you could always convert it into extra storage space. This usually doesn’t take as much money as changing it into a living space because you don’t need too many extras. Installing a light and a few shelves will be far cheaper than adding windows or potentially changing the shape of your roof.

Loft conversions are fantastic for many different reasons. Understandably, it’s a scary renovation to think about but you’d be surprised at just how much use you can get out of it. It’s one of the most functional home renovations that you could ever invest in and certainly one of the ones you should be thinking about.

Garden Overhauls

People often underestimate just how important their gardens are. People without gardens often long for a backyard for everything from hosting garden parties to having a tranquil place to treat to. However, everyone understands that a garden renovation is perhaps one of the most time-consuming (not necessarily expensive) improvements to consider. The main problem with gardening is that it takes up a lot of your time and it requires a lot of dedication. If you don’t have the time to water all of your plants and trim your hedges and so on, then you’ll need to hire a gardener and this can be incredibly expensive if you have a large one. However, that shouldn’t stop you from considering a garden overhaul for the following reasons:

Fantastic way to add value to your home - Having a beautiful garden is a great way to add lots of value to your home. You’d be surprised at just how much you can increase the value of your home with a well-maintained garden.

Gardening is a fantastic pastime - Gardening itself can be a fantastic pastime that is both good for your health and mind. It’s a form of low-impact exercise that can be surprisingly effective at keeping you healthy.

Building a tranquil retreat to relax in - The garden is often one of the most relaxing places in your home thanks to the tranquil environment you can build and how you can immerse yourself in nature. It’s a great way to relieve stress and soothe your mind.

Adding extra storage space - Yes, the garden needs storage space too! This is especially true if you’re looking into getting some gardening tools or some stronger equipment such as a lawnmower. Most people already have some kind of storage in their garden, but whether it’s a shed roof replacement to renovate your outdated shack or building a small storage bin on the side of your home, you can free up places like your utility room or garage.

Creating a family and guest gathering spot - And lastly, we can’t forget about using the garden as a fantastic place to gather family and friends. Whether it’s a neighborhood barbeque or just to relax, gardens make perfect group relaxation areas.

Garden overhauls might seem scary considering the costs and effort involved, but they’re a great way to boost the value of your home and there are many long-term benefits that come with renovating your garden, making it a project worth thinking about.

Basement Conversions

When we think of basements, we often think of dark, damp and unusable spaces for anything but storage. however, if you have quite a lot of space under your home then it’s always possible to completely renovate your basement and turn it into a fantastic living space, storage area or more. Much like loft conversions, a basement conversion can be really expensive but if your basement is already somewhat being used, then it’s often cheaper because you won’t be digging into the structure of your home. To convince you further, here are a couple of the best advantages of a basement conversion:

Expand your home with extra space - The biggest advantage of a basement conversion is obviously to add more space. Whether you use it for more storage, a living space or just a playroom filled with games and movies, the choice is entirely up to you. Combined with a loft conversion, you could potentially add two or more extra rooms to your house.

Fantastic value for money - Unlike other renovations, a basement renovation usually just involves improving on what’s already in your basement. This often means there is minimal building required and you can simply just fill up any cracks, add walls and a floor then you can furnish it. This makes it a much cheaper renovation project than the others, yet it adds just as much value and extra use to your home.

Improving resale value - Boosting your resale value is a common theme that you can see with these renovations, and it makes sense considering all of the extra features and space you can add to a home through a renovation. This is why we call these functional home renovations; because they’re useful to the homeowner yet they can also be good investments in the future for when we eventually sell our property (if at all).

Usually, no planning permission required - Unless you’re planning to dig up some of the earth to create an exterior entrance into your base or add windows, then you usually won’t need any kind of planning permission in order to start your basement conversion. This isn’t a renovation that you should be doing yourself (unless you have some capable hands ready to help you) so make sure you speak with contractors and discuss your plans before making any major changes.

A basement conversion is a great-value renovation. You get plenty of extra space at a much lower cost than a loft conversion and it’s a worthwhile investment to think about especially if you’ve just purchased your home.

Final Words

To conclude, don’t be afraid of investing in renovations especially if they appear expensive or time-consuming. If guided by the right contractors, a large-scale renovation can be made easier to manage and the entire process can be painless.

Forgetting an important milestone in a relationship seems to be one of the most common and most perilous landmines in couple’s life. But sometimes, life gets in the way of making preparations for buying gifts. Maybe you had planned on gifting a lovely diamond ring but ran out of time to get your partner’s ring measurements. Or perhaps you intended to splurge on a cushy Nectar mattress, but you know it won’t be delivered in time for the special occasion. Not being able to offer the gift you wanted can be frustrating. That being said, getting last-minute gifts is not necessarily a sin, and the gifts you do get last-minute can very well be of high quality and thoughtful.

Here are 5 great ideas for gifts you can pick up on the fly but still garner your spouse’s love and appreciation.

Trendy Gadgets

There is any number of trendy gadgets out there now that are not only the best in technology but also thoughtful and can make a difference in your partner’s everyday life. To find the best gadget for your loved one, think about their daily needs as well as their passions.

Maybe your boyfriend or husband has been using the same, ragged old trimmer, and it’s time he was upgraded to a beard trimmer that lives up to his needs and reflects the high regard you hold for him. Or maybe the old watch that he uses is just a piece of junk from a bygone era, and he could use a top-of-the-line Invicta watch. If your partner works at a computer all day long, maybe she or he could use a pair of anti-glare computer glasses to protect their eyes from straining. Sometimes the best gifts are ones that your partner will use on a daily basis.

Of course, if your loved one has all the bases covered, then it might be time to give them something more luxurious, like a back massager to help unwind at the end of the day. Or if they’re really into music, maybe it’s time to help them follow their passion to be a music producer with the latest music production gadgets. Whatever the gift ends up being, the important point is that it comes from the heart and will be meaningful on a personal level.

A Special Outing

If you have kids, try your best to arrange for them to be taken care of by someone else for the day. If you don’t, then the rest of the plan can commence immediately without delay!

Take your spouse out for a special date that means something to the both of you. You can recreate your very first date, do all those activities that you did that day, eat the same food at the same place, and perhaps even try having that first kiss all over again.

Alternatively, you could simply do something together that you haven’t done in a while. As time passes by, some things tend to get pushed aside or ignored or forgotten. This is a great chance to rediscover old hobbies and learn to appreciate them together.

You could also join a certain activity or class as a couple. Whether it’s going to the gym, signing up for a baking lesson, or joining a paintball match, spending more time together is arguably one of the best gifts you could give.

Coffee Machine

Who doesn’t like coffee? Well, having a coffee machine in the house will make getting to your morning cup a whole lot easier for both you and your partner.

As an extra treat, you could always wake your spouse up on the morning of whatever you’re celebrating with the delicious aroma of brewing coffee. Do remember to follow that up with bringing them that cup of coffee too!

Mix-Tape

This one might be a bit of an old-fashioned idea. Then again, old is gold, and going back to more classic ideas might just earn you some extra points. In any case, it’s a sure-fire romantic gesture that won’t take much time to whip up at all.

There are so many ways you can make this work and personalize the gift.

One way is to compile all the songs that ‘belong’ to you and your spouse. All your couple songs, the ones played at your wedding, can all be put into one playlist for you both to reminisce over.

You could also put together a collection of songs that remind you of your spouse or of your relationship in general. Or if you know your beloved’s music taste like the back of your hand, try amassing songs that you just know they’ll love to hear.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could come up with a list of songs they’ve mostly never heard before but might like. That way, they can discover new music and you can share what you like, too.

Home-Cooked Dinner

This idea may need a little bit more time and planning, and if you’re not that good of a cook, it might also require a whole lot of help. That’s all right, though, because the effort and thought put into this will be worth all the trouble when you get to share the meal with your grateful partner.

You don’t really have to be a master chef to get this done. The meal can be as simple as mac and cheese or ramen noodles. What matters the most is that you are the one who’s thrown on an apron and tried your best to surprise your beau.

If you’re culinarily inclined, try cooking your partner’s favorite meal. You could also recreate your first meal together. Nothing’s more romantic than that.

Or, if you really think you can’t make this idea work, just preparing a special dessert should work fine.

Conclusion

Gifts don’t have to be expensive. The most important aspect of a good present for anyone is that it came from the heart.

Hopefully, this list of ideas helps you get something just right for your spouse on your special day.

Since the Gold Rush, in 1848, California has been a state on the rise. Home to some of the most interesting cities the US has to offer, this place has become extremely popular across different social and financial groups. The climate, landscapes, and other features of Cali are what people tend to focus on the most. But, in reality, one of the best things about The Golden State is the variety it has on offer. To take you on a journey through this array of areas, this post will be exploring four of the key biomes you’ll find here.

The Coast: Most people love to spend time by the sea, especially when the weather is on their side. Home to some of the most popular beaches in the world, California has made a name for itself when it comes to sunbathing and spending time in the ocean. As a big part of this, surfing plays a large role in many of the beaches you will find here. While this may make it harder to have a paddle, it will add a huge amount of culture to your time relaxing.

The Desert: Of course, sand isn’t only found on beaches, though, and California has plenty of the stuff further inland, too. The Mojave Desert is well known for its unforgiving climates and environment. Very little life will be found here, with those surviving having to be the very toughest of the bunch. California is also home to the Colorado and Great Basin deserts which are both large enough to be considered equal to those found elsewhere around the world.

The Mountains: It’s hard to imagine finding somewhere cold in a state like this. With summer temperatures reaching incredible highs, it should feel even less likely to encounter snow. In California, though, anything is possible, and the mountains help quite a bit, as well. You can find dozens of different ranges passing through this state. With excellent value options like the Best Western Plus Humboldt House Inn, it’s easy to find somewhere quality to stay. This opens the doors to options like Skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities which people like to experience on their vacations.

The Forests: Finally, as the last biome to cover, forests can often be found at the base of mountains. This feature can be seen for miles, and provides an exciting place for budding explorers to start making tracks, along with giving you a great place to enjoy some family camping. Of course, if you take your kids somewhere like this, you have to be aware of the dangerous wildlife surrounding you. These are plenty of resources on the web to help you to stay safe while away like this.

It’s rare that a single state can offer so much to visitors. One of the best parts of this arrangement is the ability to see each of these biomes in one day. You could spend breakfast on the beach, followed by a woodland walk and helicopter ride around a mountain, and finishing it all off with dinner in the desert. Along with offering this variety, California is brimming with character, culture, and charm, making it perfect for almost any tourist.

A bucket list – everyone has one whether it’s written down or in your head. Aside from the constant torment, a catalog of things to do before you die is expensive. Ask anyone who has ticked off their list and they will tell you it cost a fortune. Lots of people will see the price as a reason to stay at home and hide the bucket for another year. However, you should see it as a challenge. Yep, it’s a mission that will result in an experience of a lifetime at an affordable price.

Should you choose to accept it, here are the tips that won’t break the bank.

Think About The Season

In the wintertime, people want to go to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights. In the summer, the same crew travels to the beaches of their dreams. Because of supply and demand, the cost will fluctuate depending on the season. Apart from hitting your wallet where it hurts, the packed crowds will also ruin the experience. If possible, it’s best to tick an adventure off the list when the season isn’t at its peak. Try and go at the beginning of the ski season, for example, or right at the end of winter for the Aurora Borealis.

Pay In Advance

No, this isn’t a buy now and pay later scheme. Well, it is in a sense, but it won’t land you in mountains of debt. Vacations consist of small, medium and large expenses. You want to cut the cost of the big ones, and you can do with a credit card. The best airline credit card promotions give you the chance to rack up air miles by paying for ordinary items. Once you have enough, you can use the miles to pay for your family’s seat on the plane. Just be careful of the higher interest rates.

Avoid The Status Quo

Certain sights and attractions appeal to masses of people. Machu Picchu is a historical site that gets hundreds of thousands of visitors each week. Still, all of the wonders of the world won’t appeal to your sense of adventure. If that is the case, don’t book a vacation just because it seems like the right move. Always focus on the attractions which make you think “wow, that would be awesome. Surfers may want to visit an abstract stretch of water, whereas mountaineers may want to scale a peak that isn't in the Himalayas. It doesn’t matter as long as it makes you happy.

Buy A Package Deal

Bucket list items are popular, and agents are well aware that they are all the rage. As such, it isn’t rare to find a package deal which includes Niagara Falls in the price. In fact, it may include accommodation and transport to and from the site. Scams do exist but don’t dismiss these deals out of hand until you know more. Paying a lump sum for a vacation of goodies can be cheaper than paying separately.

As an adventurer, it’s important to see the world without spending a fortune. So, do you have any tips to add to this bucket list?